| Author | Message | ||
     Coyote_xb12s |
I was looking for a post with similar symptoms but found none. My bike seems to not be recharging the battery. The last two times this happened, I was riding on the freeway and all the sudden it started hesitating and wanting to die. The check engine light came on, but it was real dim. Then the bike stopped running all together. When I went to restart it, I got the dreaded clicking sound of a low battery. I charged the battery back up after I got it home, plugged it all back in and the thing ran great, till it did it all again... any ideas? | ||
| Darthane |
...what kind of oil are you running in your primary? I know that's an odd question, but I had someone mention something to me that I'm looking into. Quickest, simplest test - get the bike started and put a voltmeter across the battery. If you aren't seeing something like 13V+, you aren't charging. Make sure your battery connections are clean and tight - take a wire brush to the terminals if there is any corrosion evident. Not charging properly could be caused by several different things, however. There's a few tests outlined in your service manual to determine if you have a bad stator (see my thread titled ("Second Opinion Wanted..." just below this for a tad more info) or voltage regulator. There is a black, 4-pin connector just behind the timing cover, underneath your sprocket cover on the right side of the engine. To perform the stator/regulator checks you'll need to pull that connection apart and take a voltmeter to various pins in there. Long story short, if any of the pins on the voltage regulator side have continuity to ground, you have a bad regulator. If any of the pins on the stator side have continuity to ground, or if the resistance between pins is more than ~0.3Ohms, you have a bad stator. If both check out fine, and your connections are good, you may have a bad battery. | ||
| Coyote_xb12s |
Darthane, I hadn't had a change to get back to this post. I am running the Mobil 1 Synthetic in my primary. I went ahead and replaced the battery and the bike started and ran good, but the engine light was on. I took if for a test ride and it eventually did the same thing as the first time. Needles went dead, then the bike. I am not mechanically inclined to the the electrical tests myself, but I guess I will try and check for visual problems around the stator. | ||
| Bomber |
I'm bettin the stator and/or regular are toast -- R&R em as a pair (saes heartbreak) | ||
| Nutsosane |
Coyote, if your bike is in warranty I'd consider letting them handle it. I experienced the exact same problem yesterday. After performing basic charging test I rode over to drop it off for service. My warranty is out in October so it's a good thing it happened now. If there is not a dealer in your area, most independent shops who work on Sportsters should be able to help you out. Daves can always get the parts you need. NUTS | ||
| Elsoloscuro |
Coyote I am having the same exact problem. ( Bike Starts just fine...riding for a while....then out of nowhere...rough popping sounds from exhaust..<a few second delay>..then jerky power delivery..<a few second delay>..then check engine light..<a few second delay>..then tach/speedo/clock go away..<a few second delay>..then headlight goes..<a few second delay>..then engine stops) I bought the XB in Jan of this year. So far I have brought it back to Glendale Harley Service 4 times for the exact same symptoms...funny part is that the times between the symptoms is varied from 12 hours...to 3-5 weeks. Everytime I take it to Glendale harley they tell me that they cant find anything wrong with the bike. they say the electrical, stator, reg.rect is all good. Then the last time I took it in the said they replaced the reg rect ( i doubt they did) but then the problem popped up again. now they tell me it was a loose connection on the stator..problem sovled and that I'll never have to come back to them again for this issue....48 hours later I get stuck up in the canyons with my girl on the bike as well....I am so frustrated with the bike and the service...please update this post and let us other poor souls know what is going on with you... (Message edited by elsoloscuro on August 07, 2006) | ||
| Kowpow225 |
I went round and round with my dealer about this. Actually I'm glad it's almost out of warranty. But here is likely your problem if the other charging system components check ok. It's the connector behind the front sprocket cover from the stator to the regulator. I believe it has a red and black wire. CHECK THAT CONNECTION! Also make sure your ground to the chassis is tight and of course the battery connections. | ||
| Elsoloscuro |
********** BY THE WAY MY DEALERSHIP/ SERVICE DEPT at GLENDALE HARLEY SUCKS....THEY NEVER FOUND THIS even after 30 + total days in the shop. For all other XB guys check this post. This was EXACTLY the problem as described by Kowpow225. the connector that sits directly behind the (right side) front sprocket cover of the final drive assembly. its a large blocky connector that has its male end on the bottom and female end on top. This connector's female end ( the end that has the holes to accept the males end prongs) had one of its bay clips folded all the way up. this was causing intermittent connectiity when the plug was properly connected. I actually found this by accidnent before reading the Kowpow225 post and came here to post the solution....anyway take a very small flat head screw driever (eye glass repair kit) and GENTLY bend the clip/tab in the faulty female bay back down....this will ensure that the clip/tab firmly presses against the male prong when the plug is properly connected. since I did this I have had zero problems with my buell...and this lead me to do all my service myself...I am much happier and have never loved my buell more... the facrt is that buell dealerships and service shops all SUCK..no matter where you go...and its those places that make people hate buell...not the bikes...becuase the bikes are freaking great. |
